Please outline why you’re running for the position, and any skills/experience you possess which would enable you to be successful if elected:

Hello!! I’m Claude, and I’m running to be your next VP Societies and Sport!!

Claude? Who is he? Well, I’m a third-year psychology student and a first-gen Indian! As the president of Pokémon Society, Senior Course rep (and Chair!) for Psychology and a Student Engagement assistant- you can consider me a triple threat!

What else? As someone passionate and involved with the university, pushing accessible arrangements within my society, Single-handedly restructuring Psychology’s SSAM system and facilitating RH100 talks, I have the passion, drive and experience to propel tangible change.

But why you? Because I care about the recognition and support of student groups and improving their accessibility. As the SU’s self-proclaimed biggest fanboy, I’ve seen concerns on the flipside both as a student and as part of the SU- I’ve given my all towards change as a student; allow me to give my all now as your next VP SocSport!!

Outline your top 8 priorities in ranking order:

1. Make SU events more affordable/accessible
2. Improve communication and access to university professional support services
3. More daytime events
4. More student-friendly timetables
5. Increase number of social/study spaces on campus
6. More financial support for students
7. Cheaper and more frequent transport in the local area
8. More music and event variety for SU club nights

For your top 3 priorities, identify 1 or 2 actions you would achieve to address the issue:

1. 1. Make SU events more affordable/accessible
   Why does it matter?
   SU events are open to everyone, but can everyone access them? Not only do students deserve equitable access to events but student groups require the right training, support and funding to do so.
   What Will I Do?
   - Review campus facilities/spaces to employ multi-use areas to reduce physical access barriers for SU events/initiatives.
   - Launch a policy enquiry targeted towards student groups and the state of training, recognition, support and funding
2. 2. Improve communication and access to university professional support services
   Why does it matter?
   Fitness is wellness, while sports facilities exist on campus, how accessible are they not only to student groups but also the wider student body?
   What Will I Do?
   - Work with ALS to review extending gym operating hours, as well as evaluate refurbishing and extending current gym facilities
   - Introduce more workshops, training and campaigns towards encouraging accessibility within sports
   - Incentivise more collaboration between ALS and student groups to encourage participation in sports
3. 3. More daytime events
   Why does it matter?
   It’s hard to estimate an exact number of our commuter base, but it grows each year, with the divide of evening events for student groups- where’s the space for them to find a second home too?
   What Will I Do?
   - Introduce more workshops, training and campaigns towards encouraging accessibility within sports
   - Launch commuter survey regarding what events students want and how they’d like to be informed of them

Please outline why you’re running for the position, and any skills/experience you possess which would enable you to be successful if elected:

I am running for VP Sports and Societies because I want students to feel welcome, and excited about student life outside of academics. University life should be about exploring passions, meeting new people, and feeling part of a supportive community. My goal is to make sure all sports and societies are the best they can be, well-funded, well-organized, and accessible to everyone. I want to strengthen these communities so that every student, no matter their background or experience level, can find a place where they belong. I have had the opportunity to work closely with the two previous VPs, giving me valuable insight into the role and the challenges it involves, as well as working as Student Ambassador, SU Photographer and Sports Centre Assistant, where I saw firsthand what works well and what can be improved to support these sport teams and societies.

Outline your top 8 priorities in ranking order:

1. More student-friendly timetables.
2. Run more departmental events and networking opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates.
3. Improve street lighting in the local area.
4. Make SU events more affordable and accessible.
5. More affordable food options on campus.
6. Longer opening hours at food outlets.
7. More daytime events.
8. More music and event variety for SU club nights.

For your top 3 priorities, identify 1 or 2 actions you would achieve to address the issue:

1. More student-friendly timetables:
   I aim to address the scheduling of Wednesday lectures, which conflicts with sports fixtures and forces students to choose between academics and athletics. Traditionally, Wednesdays were reserved for sports, allowing full participation without academic clashes. I will advocate for solutions, such as no Wednesday lectures or improved support systems, to help students balance their commitments.
2. Run more departmental events and networking opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates:
   There aren’t enough departmental networking events to fully prepare students for the workplace. Career opportunities shouldn’t be limited to just a few events each year. I will push for more frequent opportunities, like alumni talks, industry panels, and workshops, ensuring all students have the connections and guidance needed to confidently enter their chosen fields.
3. Improve street lighting in the local area:
   After nights out, many students feel unsafe walking in the dark due to the poor street lighting in the local area. This is a serious safety concern that needs to be addressed. I will work with the university and the Runnymede Borough Council to push for better street lighting in key areas and explore initiatives like partnerships with local transport services to ensure everyone gets home safely.

Please outline why you’re running for the position, and any skills/experience you possess which would enable you to be successful if elected:

As a prominent member of our bears community I want nothing more than to see students have the same positive experiences I have had. I am running for VP of Societies and Sport because I want to enhance this experience for everyone. Over the past three years, I have immersed myself in Holloway sport, both as a committee member, an active participant and sport staff member . This involvement has given me invaluable insight into its challenges and opportunities.

I aim to strengthen our Bears community by ensuring sports teams and societies have a stronger voice and direct communication with the SU and Sport Centre. My experience equips me with a unique perspective to bridge gaps and foster collaboration. Ultimately, I want to dedicate the next year to improving student engagement, ensuring societies and sports thrive, and making university life the best it can be for all students.

Outline your top 8 priorities in ranking order:

1. Make SU events more affordable and accessible
2. Make SU events more affordable and accessible
3. More daytime events
4. More financial support for students
5. Increase the number of social and study spaces on campus
6. More student-friendly timetables
7. Improve Parking on the Egham Campus
8. Cheaper and more frequent transport in the local area

For your top 3 priorities, identify 1 or 2 actions you would achieve to address the issue:

1. Make SU events more affordable and accessible
   The cost of participating in student union events and sports activities can be a barrier for many students. By collaborating with the SU and the university’s sports centre, I aim to introduce more budget-friendly options that allow all students to stay active without financial strain. Making these activities more affordable will encourage greater participation, helping students to maintain a healthy lifestyle while strengthening our Bears community.
2. Improve communication and access to University professional support services
   Sometimes the communication between clubs, societies and our SU doesn’t always feel clear and easy. This is a relationship that needs to be strengthened. We work so hard to run our organisations and they need the best support they can get, whether it’s better committee training and yearly wellbeing support to fixtures and facility bookings. We need to offer that and make a space where that can be clearly communicated.
3. More daytime events
   Many of our current events, whether they are related to sports or societies, primarily take place in the evening. While this suits some students, it doesn’t accommodate everyone’s schedules or interests. I propose an initiative to introduce more activities during the day, ensuring that students with different commitments, such as part-time jobs or commuting student, can still participate. This will foster a more inclusive and engaged university community, providing greater opportunities for students to connect.

Please outline why you’re running for the position, and any skills/experience you possess which would enable you to be successful if elected:

Hi!! I’m Farha, and I'm a second-year Digital Innovation and Management student running for VP Sports and Societies.

As a student ambassador and international students community officer, I've gained valuable experience in leadership and representation. I'm also actively involved in several societies, serving as treasurer for Women in STEM and Pakistan Society, and secretary for Indian and Mallu Society.

If elected, I'll prioritize creating a more inclusive and diverse sports and societies scene. I'll work to increase funding and resources for underrepresented groups, expand the range of sports and activities offered, and improve communication and collaboration between clubs and the SU. I'll also introduce a new initiative to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our student athletes and society members.

My skills in communication, organization, and management, combined with my passion for creating positive change, make me the ideal candidate to lead our sports and societies to new heights.
#FarhaforVP

Outline your top 8 priorities in ranking order:

1. Run more departmental events and networking opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates.
2. Increase the number of social and study spaces on campus.
3. More daytime events
4. Make SU events more affordable and accessible.
5. More music and event variety for SU club nights.
6. Reduce deadline stacking for assessments and coursework.
7. Improve communication and access to University professional support services.
8. More affordable food options on campus.

For your top 3 priorities, identify 1 or 2 actions you would achieve to address the issue:

1. Run more departmental events and networking opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates:
   I'll introduce sports-related workshops and courses, since Royal Holloway doesn't offer sports degrees. I'll also organize social events and competitions that bring students from different departments together. And I'll encourage societies to team up for events that connect different fields of study.
2. Increase the number of social and study spaces on campus:
   I'll push for more social and study spaces, including dedicated rooms for society events. This means less classroom booking hassle and more space for clubs, societies, and sports teams to connect and thrive.
3. More daytime events:
   I'll make campus life more exciting with lots of daytime events! Think fun, non-alcoholic activities like game tournaments, movie screenings, online events and outdoor adventures. I'll team up with societies to host events for everyone, including single-gendered ones where everyone feels comfortable. For commuters, I'll push for a dedicated lunch break hour for clubs and events. Wednesdays will be sports-only. Plus, I'll create an easy online calendar so you never miss out!

Please outline why you’re running for the position, and any skills/experience you possess which would enable you to be successful if elected:

Hey! I’m Grace, and I’m running to be VP Societies & Sports to ensure every student at Royal Holloway gets the most from their university experience!

Royal Holloway has been my home for four years, first as an undergrad, and now as a postgraduate researcher, student leader, and staff member. I know what students need, how the SU works, and how to make real change.

I’ll help student leaders grow their groups and remove barriers—whether it’s commuting, finances, access needs, timetable clashes, or lack of funding and spaces. My priorities include better financial support, more accessible events, and timetables that leave space for hobbies.

I’ll help student leaders grow their groups and remove barriers—whether it’s commuting, finances, access needs, timetable clashes, or lack of funding and spaces. My priorities include better financial support, more accessible events, and timetables that leave space for hobbies.

For Sports, For Societies, For Students!
#GoWithGrace

Outline your top 8 priorities in ranking order:

1. More financial support for students
2. Increase the number of social and study spaces on campus
3. Make SU events more affordable and accessible
4. More daytime events
5. Cheaper and more frequent transport in the local area
6. More student-friendly timetables
7. More affordable food options on campus
8. Create initiatives to improve the relationship between students and residents of the local community

For your top 3 priorities, identify 1 or 2 actions you would achieve to address the issue:

1. More financial support for students
   I’ll simplify the Access Fund application and support student groups in making their events work with the Access Fund. I’ll advocate for commuter subsidies or bursaries, including a season ticket loan scheme, and improve SU Advice Centre support for PIP, Help with Health Costs, and Low-Income Support applications through drop-in sessions and appointments. I'll push to redefine hardship fund criteria and introduce community fridges and second-hand sales to ease student expenses.
2. Increase the number of social and study spaces on campus
   I’ll expand social and study spaces by adding gazebos and outdoor seating, funded by external sponsors. I’ll push for departmental buildings to stay open later, repurposing foyer areas for study. To support student groups, I’ll advocate for earlier room bookings and more availability. During exams, I’ll partner with local libraries and coffee shops for extended hours and study sessions while securing temporary study structures on campus to ensure students have a comfortable place to go.
3. Make SU events more affordable and accessible
   I’ll create a fund that student groups can apply for to cover accessibility costs, introduce travel subsidies for off-campus groups, and ensure the SU actively supports and promotes student-led events. I’ll push for better funding, training, and resources to make student group events more accessible and welcoming to newcomers. I’ll also increase SU events for specific communities, focusing on free daytime events. My goal is to strengthen collaboration between the SU and student groups.

Please outline why you’re running for the position, and any skills/experience you possess which would enable you to be successful if elected:

Over the last three years, I have been incredibly lucky to have a great deal of involvement and interaction with Student Groups. Being on committee for the Orbital, Women’s Football and Lacrosse and working in a role where I interact with multiple groups daily, I have experienced first-hand the great work student groups do and the benefits they have to their members. This is why I am running for the role. I have loved my time in student groups and on committees and believe the experience I have gained across captain, welfare and editorial roles would place me in good stead for the role. I have also loved working in a position at the Students’ Union where I am able to regularly help student groups with day-to-day tasks and logistics. Therefore, I would love to take on a role in which I have more agency to make meaningful change.

Outline your top 8 priorities in ranking order:

1. Increase the number of social and study spaces on campus
2. More financial support for students
3. More daytime events
4. Improved support around extenuating circumstances and assessments
5. Run more departmental events and networking opportunities for undergraduates and postgraduates
6. Improve street lighting in the local area
7. Cheaper and more frequent transport in the local area
8. More student-friendly timetables.

For your top 3 priorities, identify 1 or 2 actions you would achieve to address the issue:

1. To develop the number of social and study spaces on campus, I would address the issue from the perspective of Vice SocSport, working with student groups to help better understand student groups usage of space and then work alongside groups and the Students’ Union to lobby the university to improve the number and quality of spaces offered, backing up demands with data collected from interactions and focus groups with student groups and their members.
2. To work in line with the priority to give more financial support for students, I would improve the transparency of and stream-line the process for applying for Access Fund Grants and Student Group funding, ensuring all students and groups understand how to apply for funding, and what they are entitled to. I would hold regular opportunities or feedback and questions surrounding funding to ensure people felt heard in the process and received funding.
3. In regards to more daytime events, I would lobby for Student Groups to have greater access to University facilities during the day where feasible to ensure that they are able to facilitate student-led events for members during the day. I would also regularly meet with student groups to understand what support they need to make more daytime events feasible, whether it be logistical or financial and s recognise groups who excel and facilitating daytime events.

Please outline why you’re running for the position, and any skills/experience you possess which would enable you to be successful if elected:

I’m running for the role of VP sports and societies because I want to improve the accessibility in the communities on campus. It’s important to both me and the wider community at Royal Holloway that everyone at our university has access to participate in societies that represent them and align with their values, together with getting involved in the sports clubs that our students are most interested in.

I joined the Polo Club in my first year proceeding to become treasurer in my second year; I am currently the president where I continue to achieve the goals set in my manifesto. In both of these positions I have worked to grow the Polo community within RHUL utilizing skills developed from my ongoing and previous professional experience.

My prior experience as a teaching assistant gave me an understanding of working within legislative frameworks while advocating on behalf of students.

Outline your top 8 priorities in ranking order:

1. More financial support for students
2. More daytime events
3. More student-friendly timetables
4. Increase the number of social and study spaces on campus
5. Create initiatives to improve the relationship between students and residents of the local community
6. Reduce deadline stacking for assessments and coursework
7. Improve Parking on the Egham Campus
8. Longer opening hours at food outlets

For your top 3 priorities, identify 1 or 2 actions you would achieve to address the issue:

1. More financial support for students:
   Utilising the differing committee treasures to find and partner with sponsors from the local community that provide financial support in return for offering them advertising to their members. I will work with Presidents to communicate and direct access to these built up funds for those who most need it within the clubs and societies, while increasing practical education on optimising the use of the current university access funds.
2. More daytime events:
   Working with the academic departments to lead midday employability panels delivered by lecturers with experience in popular fields alongside the addition of sports centre led, outdoor casual active sessions with the aim to increase attendance from working and commuting students. I’d like to make use of spaces such as the founders' quads, field and ground floor library spaces as they are central campus locations.
3. More student-friendly timetables:
   I’d implement mandatory time-off across courses aiming to streamline the organisation process of events within sports and societies. A set hour within the middle of the day, 3 days a week, including an afternoon match break for all courses on Wednesday, would enable timetabling to be formed around this break. I’d like to push away from the 4-6pm lectures that can often prevent students from taking on afternoon work and extending commuting students' journeys.